Answering a need to prepare students to pursue in-demand jobs—and to provide the economy with workplace-ready employees—Mitchell College is unveiling several new academic options starting the Fall 2023 semester. The new majors include two new bachelor’s degrees and two new associate degrees:
- Business Management (B.S.)
- Public Health (B.A.)
- Computer and Data Information Systems (A.S.)
- General Studies, with a focus on Workplace Readiness (A.A.)
Vice President for Academic Affairs Elizabeth A. Beaulieu, Ph.D., said, “Mitchell College strives to be a contributing leader in workforce development, preparing students through market-relevant programs to enter in-demand fields. The new programs add to an already wide variety of disciplines in areas of high student interest and high employer demand.”
She added, “For our bachelor’s programs, introductory to advanced coursework provides content knowledge and skills, and our Integrative Career Development (ICD) program provides career preparation for our students. Career planning begins with our First-Year Experience, followed by a second-year, discipline-specific career seminar and culminates in upper-level mastery courses and practical application courses, including internships, research courses and/or capstones. Students pursuing an associate degree also have full access to career development support from ICD. This degree can also be stepping stone to more advanced education.”
The Bachelor of Science in Business Management is designed to prepare students to be “work ready” within their chosen business career. Students will learn to evaluate management situations and apply appropriate professional methods to improve operations, solve problems and deliver results. Through an experiential learning approach, students are empowered with knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors required to pursue careers in business and management. They will also study environmental, social and economic systems and emerging megatrends which affect contemporary business operations, with a focus on small and family business. Specializations within the major include entrepreneurship and innovation, project management and organizational transformation, and digital marketing. Additionally, Michael’s Dairy, a popular local business on Mitchell’s campus, will serve as a “learning lab” for students enrolled in the business major.
The Bachelor of Arts in Public Health focuses on community health. The degree equips students with an understanding of public health principles and the skills and knowledge needed to address community health problems and improve assessment, cultural competence and advocacy. The curriculum includes courses in health promotion and disease prevention, health policy, and social and behavioral health, among others. It also offers hands-on experience through a community-based internship and prepares students for careers in a wide range of public health settings, including health departments, non-profit organizations, community health centers and government agencies. Graduates may also pursue advanced degrees in public health or related fields.
The Associate of Science in Computer and Data Information Systems is designed to meet student demand for technology-centric academic experiences aligned with 21st-century workforce needs. Students who enroll in the program will develop computer programming skills using multiple software platforms and use those skills to examine and analyze data and develop conclusions that apply to data-driven decisions about problems in real time. This degree program will also include an option for students to test for industry certification in cybersecurity through Mitchell’s Digital Innovation Hub for Educational Excellence (The Hub).
The Associate of Arts in General Studies focuses on workplace readiness, combining traditional courses in liberal education—such as literature, history and social sciences—with transferable hard and soft skills needed to succeed in the workplace. Hard skills include writing, reading comprehension, verbal communication and technology readiness. Soft skills include leadership, critical and creative thinking, community and collaboration and analysis and problem-solving. Mastery of these skills creates a foundation for careers in social services, business administration, marketing, healthcare, retail services and other business sectors or for pursuing a four-year degree.
